Adjustable hand rake



Sept. 6, 1949. E, D, PAUL 2,481,442

ADJUSTABLE HAND RAKE Filed Jan. 7, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. f5, w49. E. 1;. PAUL ADJUSTABLE HAND BAKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1947 Sept. 6, 1949. E. D. PAUL i ADJUSTABLE HAND BAKE 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Jan. 7, 1947 INVENTOR Sept, 6, 1949. E. D. PAUL ADJUSTABLE HAND RAKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 7, 1947 INVENTOR gy/gafna,

Patented Sept. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to adjustable hand rakes.

The main purpose of my invention is to plVde an adjustable hand rake for use on lawns, etc.

A further purpose is to construct a hand rake which can be used as a pusher for removing leaves, etc., or as a puller for similar use.

A further purpose is to use an adjustable tined head upon a handle of a rake.

A further purpose is to construct a hand rake which can be set in a rigid position upon a handle for a pulling operation.

A further purpose is to construct a hand rake which can be set in a rigid position for use on a handle for a pushing operation.

A further purpose is to provide a spring-pressed cover for a connection between a head extension and an operating handle of a hand rake.

,A further purpose is to provide a latch and slot connection between a tined head and an operating handle of a hand rake to securely hold the tined head in either a pushing or pulling position.

A further purpose is to provide a spring pressed sleeve upon a handle to make intertting and adjustable connection between a head and a rake handle.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

Describing in illustration, but not in limitation, and referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved adjustable rake in which the head is shown in position for pulling the rake to gather up leaves or grass upon a lawn or the like.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing my hand rake in use on a lawn with the head in a pushing position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of my improved adjustable rake, set in a position for the pulling operation.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation ol the rake shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevation similar to Figure 4, but showing the tined head in a pushing position with respect to the handle.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a detail of the outer sleeve used in my invention.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the inner sleeve used in my invention.

Figure 9 is a perspective View of a latchused in carrying out my invention.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tined head, showing eared connectors by which the head is fastened to the inner sleeve.

(Cl. 56K-400.20)

My invention is intended to overcome disadvantages found in present lawn rakes.

I have found it desirable to have a lawn rake which can be used in either a handle pulling operation upon the leaves on other debris upon a lawn or the like and in a pushing position of the rake handle. Accordingly I have developed a rake which answers each of these requirements.

In raking leaves, grass or the like upon a lawn it sometimes becomes desirable to use the rake in a pushing position, similar to the Way that a broom is sometimes used in a sweeping operation. My improved rake will answer the pushing requirements when it is set in the adjusted position for that use. It will also answer the ordinary requirements of pulling as in the present day rakes.

In Figure 1, I have shown my rake in use upon a lawn. It shows clearly the rake being pulled by the user.

In Figure 2, the rake head has been adjusted with respect to the handle to present it for use as a pusher, similar to the movement used when a person is sweeping, as with a broom.

In developing my improved rake, I found it desirable for lawn use, especially in raking leaves, grass Aor the like, to use iiexible tines of the spreading variety. These tines are secured in a head structure and in the present invention the head structure is pivotally connected to extensions from the operating handle.

My improved rake I5 comprises a tine-supporting head I6, with a handle II and a pivoted joint I8. Upon the handle I1 I secure a ferrule I 9. The ferrule I9 is secured to the handle by means of a pin. 20. About the ferrule I9 I mount a sleeve 2I which has its outer end enlarged in diameter at 22 to present a space 23 between the sleeve 22 and the ferrule I9. Into this space 23 and about the ferrule I9 I place a compression spring 24, which abuts a shoulder I9 at the outer end of the sleeve and which has its opposite end abut a shoulder 25 at the opposite end of the space within the enlarged part of the sleeve 22. The forward end of the ferrule I9 carries ears 26 and 2l, which are fitted about the pivot I8 and spaced from one another to allow for the insertion of ears 28 and 29 approaching from the head I6.

The ears 28 and 29 are spaced from one another upon the shaft I8 to permit the insertion of a latch 30, which fills the entire lateral space between the ears 28 and 29 and to which it is permanently fastened by Welding or the like. The pivot I8 has at one end a bolt head 3| and at the other end a nut 3|', which is secured on to the 3 pivot I8. This will securely hold the parts together at the pivot point and at the same time will permit swinging movement of the head I6 in orderA` that. thetines; can beplaeedj Withirr. the

metal andi atter they.-arefproperly'posiltiorxecii` mayv spread in a fanlike formation to present the tine ends in such a position that they will cover 'conf-'- siderable space due to the spread obtainedbythe fanlike formation.

the tines.

The latch member 30 can be movedL abouttne pivot I8. 'I'he latch carries a. nger extensiongt at the bottom and 34 at the top. The latch linger 33. isfadaptedtobe placed inaslot 3 5. inthe ferrule I9' to securelyllnol'dthe head portioninacomparatively .straight line in Order thattherakemay .be use dfor va pulling operation, as shown in Figure 1.

If it. should be,Y desiredY to .change .the position of the rake .hfeiad with respect to the handle I I as c leall'yslown ingFigure-Z, .the sleeve 2| is pushed, rearwardl'yv againsttne spring Z4 to allow the finger 33' .ofthel'atch 30' to becomepdsengaged from the. slot 35 and after this ,action has taken place the .opposite or`v Auniver finger .34 can be. swung into fslot 36 diametrically 'opposite from thesot At thesame time therakehead I6' carrying' .the ,ears 28` Yand 29 .isf .swungv ,into a rearward' position as `c1 e'a rl'y shown in Figure X6 to present .the tines in af position Qfuse like that shown in Figure 2 Where the rake is adapted toV be pushed .insteadof pulled .asin Figure 1` .The invention is primarilyapplioable to. hand.

ga'rden rakes o'f the type having resilient or, .spring tines l..6 which `in .they pulling Position havev a portion i621 in generjaiprolongation of a handle anda. nortion AI'fat anangle with the'handle and generally transverse to the ground. `Rallies of this character are in songe respects similar .to brooms Aand :perform a 'broom-like .function vin raking. 'If the rake .oflli'gu're I is pulled toward the Y user the portion I B2` actslike a basket .to .col-

The tines are then fastened in `place by pressing the metal folds at.3.=2 about diecastings' or forgings, although itmayfinsome of a broom when it is in use, the sleeve 2| is Y moved rearwardly against the actionof the spring 2li far enough to allow the latch nger 33 to become detached from the slot 35. While in this position the sleeve is turned to cause the shoulder 3 8 Y-to .lbeconaezengaged yto the pirr extension 23', to temporaailw hold the :spring in V.compressed position and to make the slots and 36 free for the insertion of the finger 34, Whenthe latch member vis swung about the pivot I8.. The head is then placed in a position similar to Figure 6 andthe sleeue 2I is allowed to move over the latch finger34.. As- -the 'latch is permanently fastened to 4vearso fs tl1 head I 5, it will be clearly Vseen that the headk will be held inria rigid positionwith respoot to the handler. thereby holding .all of the Joined parts together to" make a rigid .construc- Vtion'. `Ibelieve' Tarn the' Yfirst to provide a hand v,rake which isl capable ofeifther pushingorpulling; it is desirable` 4in carrying' outing invention to use ai fairly `loue handigel because ofthe rf ing positionfor vice versa."

rake is preferably made of: pressed nretah versal of the rake head from va pulling toa push instances be made all or in paj'rt' of"k plasticl matenjjai; n wur be noted that n; .the iliusrrauons of A'Figure l and Figure' 2^ my rake clearly shows. its adaptabil y of us'ef either'a pulling position or' a-l pushing position. i

In view of :n3/invention and" disclosure variations and mod'ications to' meet individual whim or particular need willdoubtlfess beconie` evident to; others Ysl'zii'l'ed'inY the artgto obtain' all'. onpartj of the benefitsfofiny' invention without copying I ect'leaves or .otherprr'iaterialraked,.and if anob struction l,is encountere the resilientt es iel'dl d m y and the heada-nd conventional; resilient Yl'lrojom away from the direction of movement without any pronounced, tendency to .die 1in. I`1; .hoWever,.-the

rake as shown in Figure ll .were ypushedagainst the ground, @basket-like o ,r yloaf collecting runetion Would' he kexerted-.105" the' portions, I5-"0.f the times, 'and on. encountering'anobstruction .the

fines would tend'to digiti By moving the angle ofA the head. as' shown Figure Zso that .the basket-like or broom-,likeportion |52 of the unes'y faces `the direction ofy motion. and the end Yportions I6?" Vare again suitably transverse to .the

ground", material raked iscollected by the rake-inV pushing action, and' on encountering anobstruof tion the resilient tines again yield away from the direction of motion without tendencyto digin..

As an aid .to making the'ohanee from thenushngjl'o the pulling DQsitfQn or thereverse while tirejlatch lingers' are being; changed ,and the.y head is -being changed; the pin extension' 20", which'is fastened to the handle I1 and .ferrulelisdrawn outY of the sfot31 and allowed to rest on thestep 3-8 in the forwardvenfdof the s levezz This will aiu in herdinguie parts wiiue the raten is beine changedasshown in'Figure 6.

I have found that a rigid device' is obtainable by the useofl the construction above desc zribe'd.V

' If is desiredto change tneposition from 1a type rake tines on the Yhead diver-ging theref r gr 1 o, Y

whereby the angular relation ofthev tines to t e handle can be changed, to a position in which the rake can be usedl as apuslier rake.

crosswise-to one end of the handle,v and conventional resilient broom type rake tines secured' tof `the Vfhead withV the'- tinesdiverginjg fromY the,

head' and'having orithe t'ines'y portions near the ends remote from `the 'heady whichA arev bentjin a direction away vfrom the vengi of the handle remote from the head, whereby'the rake adapted' to be usedasY a type' rake'.

v REFERENCES CITED lThe following references Yare off` record in the. le of this 'patenti UNITED VSTATES PATENTS 

